A large increase in food pantry usage is anticipated after the program once known as food stamps goes unfunded Nov. 1.
SNAP
Pay It Forward Board in Dixfield to help those in need with free meals
A community food and household supply drive is also taking place.
How Mainers are stepping up to help neighbors, food pantries ahead of SNAP funding lapse
Local organizations are trying to bridge the gap for the nearly 170,000 Maine residents who won’t get food stamps in November — and they’re already seeing a swell in much-needed donations and volunteers.
170,000 Mainers won’t get November SNAP benefits. Blame the shutdown.
About 12.5% of Maine’s residents use the assistance program previously known as food stamps, which is already facing historic cuts included in the Republican budget bill passed over the summer.
For many older Mainers, covering costs in retirement is a major challenge
Experts say there is a clear divide between people who can afford to live comfortably in retirement — and those whose tight budgets make it difficult to pay for basic needs like food and housing.
Thousands of Mainers face loss of SNAP benefits as program undergoes historic cuts
The changes will put more pressure on food pantries, which are already seeing a rise in need and warning that they won’t be able to fill the gap.
Maine’s food pantries are stretched thin. Here’s how to help them.
Programs across the state are already serving more people than ever, and the need is expected to grow further as food assistance benefit cuts take effect.
SNAP cuts could impact Maine’s free lunch for students in the long term
School districts will continue to offer lunches at no cost, but changes in eligibility for food assistance could result in less federal funding in the future.
At Lewiston Farmers’ Market, federal budget cuts raise fears, uncertainty
Congress has passed deep cuts to food assistance and other programs that support farmers, adding uncertainty to an already uncertain industry.
Maine warns of SNAP benefit thefts impacting hundreds of households
While this type of fraud has occurred in other states, ‘this is the first time we have seen it at this scale in Maine,’ a Department of Health and Human Services official said.